So, there we were at the excellent Hilton Tokyo Bay, theme-park nirvana within our grasp! Great views of both Tokyo Disney parks from my window! The monorail station just across the street! Oh, frabjous day!

But, much as monks and friars on a pilgrimage, one's soul must undergo a ritual cleansing before achieving a state of spiritual bliss. And that cleansing was to take place at Fuji Q--easily the worst park I had ever visited back in 2007. Yes, the memories of that day six years ago were not particularly pleasant. But at least I didn't have to rush around and get a lot of credits in 2013. My main objectives were Takabisha, the park's new, enormous Eurofighter, and the Haunted Hospital, the park's famous walk-through attraction.

But I ended up being pleasantly surprised, thanks to Robb and Elissa--the group's day at Fuji Q went very well (for this park, anyway). Yes, there were some hefty lines and the usual poor operations, but Robb and Elissa made good use of the park's bizarre "fast pass" system to make sure everybody got all the credits in. Yes, they camped out by that "fast pass" kiosk all day and made sure to score as many passes as possible for the group.

I ask you, seriously, who the hell else would do that? Thank you very much!

So, I ended up having a pretty good day at Fuji Q. I liked Takabisha--especially the second section following the vertical lift (the initial launched section was fun, but rougher). I had no idea that there was an inversion in the dark before the launch. The much-ballyhooed Haunted Hospital is certainly long on atmosphere, if pretty short on scareactors. It's a very long walk, indeed, up and down many flights of stairs, through dark corridors filled with creepy props, such as an actual body scanner and jars of various bodily organs. There certainly were plenty of places for actors to hide--I just wish there had been more of them (maybe they pull out the stops in October). Still, I liked the Haunted Hospital, although it isn't on the same level as Hotel Gasten at Liseberg or Spokhuset at Grona Lund.

I also got another credit I'd missed in 2007--Rock and Roll Duncan, the kiddie coaster in the park's Thomas Land section. This was one of the nicest kid's areas I've seen outside of a Disney park. It was very well landscaped and even had a nice dark ride. Six Flags could learn something from Fuji Q here.

I even had a good lunch that day, unlike in 2007. However, while I did enjoy myself more than I expected, I'm still not a fan of this place. The operations remain poor, although the staff is nice enough. For example, Dan and I had passes for Fujiyama (a ride I liked in 2007), but when we went to use them, the ride had closed because of "wind." (The air seemed pretty still to us.) Aside from Thomas Town, it's not a very attractive-looking park. Much of it seems stuck in the 1970s, and some of it is just butt ugly expanses of concrete. Your average Cedar Fair park looks better than much of Fuji Q.

But, again thanks to Robb and Elissa, all went very well that day.

Looks like the main gate's open--follow me.

Aw, do we have to go to Fuji Q today?

The group obsessively checks the Internet to see if Mt. Fuji had erupted. It had not.

Japan has very nice roadside rest stops where gorillas give you kegs of beer!

Seriously--why can’t we have nice rest stops like this in the U.S.?

You’re welcome, Starbucks.

I feel a tremor in the Force . . .

Yeah, “Fujikyu” to you, too pal.

Hmm--is bear fighting a big problem in Japan?

“Fuji Q”? “FujiKyu”? Where the hell are we, anyway?

Robb has confirmed that the park is open.

I’ll take this as a good sign.

These guys are always happy to be at Fuji Q.

First stop, Takabisha--a ride I rather liked.

The mural in the station is a nice touch.

The initial launched portion is a little rough, but not horrible.

The section following the vertical lift hill is better.

Not sure what part of the ride I’m looking at here.

It’s all twisty and confusing--in a good way.

KT was kind enough to give Dan and me a tour of Thomas Land.

They did a great job on this area. Six Flags could learn something from Fuji Q here.

Yay for getting a missed kiddie credit! KT was duly impressed.

KT required us to ride this, as well. I was surprised that I fit in the boat.

^Yep--they let us stick together. But it was odd how you had to sit through a "safety" briefing and a "pre-show" in two separate rooms. I think it would speed things up a bit if they combined the two processes.

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